Deck lid hinge



Aug. 16, 1949. T. VIGMOSTAD ETAL DECK LID HINGE Filed Dc. 18, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. ye z"g/ 3141 47! W 36% C I y -Aug. 16, 1949.T. VIGMOSTAD ET AL 2,479,437

' I DECK LID HINGE Filed Dec. 18,1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5.

Patented Aug. 16, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE}:

Trygve Vigmostad and Earl w. Redick, Detroit,

Mich., assignors to Briggs Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application December 18, 1944, Serial No.568,652

This invention relates to hinge devices and more particularly toso-called deck lid hinges having especial application to swinging doorsor lids of automobile or vehicle bodies, such as deck, trunk and hoodlids thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge device of theforegoing character which is compact, strong and durable in constructionwhile at the same time providing a unitary structure easily installedand occupying a minimum of space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a deck lid hinge or thelikehaving spring'controlled means of improved construction adapted tocounterbalan'ce, or substantially so, the weight of the lid or closureand-to hold the same in raised position. I V

Another object of the invention is toprovide a deck lid hinge havingtension spring means mounted and operable in improved manner forcounterbalancing the weight of the lid and assisting. in the raisingthereof.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like. reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of anautomobile body illustrating a deck lid hinged to the body by means of ahinge device constructed in accordance with the present invention. i

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the deck lid hinge illustrating therelation of the parts when the deck lid is in raised position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the deck lid hinge.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the deck lid hinge illustrating therelation of the parts when the lid is closed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken substantially through lines 5-5 ofFig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

In Fig. l of the drawingsthere is illustrated an automobile body havinga rear metal panel l0 913Claim8. (o1. Mai-) forming a sloping deck,trunkor other compartment provided with an opening I l into thecompartment which is adapted tobe closed by means of a swinging lid orclosure [2 supported byrmeans of a hinge device, generally designated atI3, constructed in accordance with :the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment the fixed member of the hinge i3 is in theform of a U-shaped stamped or pressed metal support l4 adapted to berigidlysecured by means of bolts Hi to. the roof panel N5 of thecompartment 1 l. The support I4 is a unitary stamping of invertedchannel shape construction comprising a transverse front portion Ma andintegral rearwardly extending legs or side members [4b extending inparallelism. As will be readily seen from the drawings, the support 14comprises in section a top web engaging the underside of the panel H5and depending spaced side flanges which terminate in laterally extendingouter and inner edge flanges I1 and I8. Each of the sides or legs Mb ofthe U -shaped hinge frame I4 is bent downwardly at its rear end toprovide a rearwardly and downwardly inclined portion l9 terminatingbelow the panel I6 at or adjacent the margin of the deck opening I I.

In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention the movablemember of the hinge device is in the form of a unitary generally U-shaped stamping comprising two spaced hinge members 20 integrallyconnected together at their outer ends by means of a transversechanneled plate or bar 2| rigidly bolted at 22 to the underside of thedeck lid l2 Each of the hinge members 20 as well as the lid attachingportion 2| is pressed into channel shape and each member 20 intermediateits ends is bent into substantially a gooseneck 23. As illustrated inFig. 5, each member 20 is formed with a relatively wide central webterminating in depending side flanges 24 turned outwardly along theiredges to provide marginal flanges 25. Inwardly of the gooseneck 23 theside flanges 24 are progressively increased in depth so as to provide achannel shaped crank portion 21.

The side flanges 2 4 of each crank portion 21 embrace opposite sides ofone of the depending legs [9 of the fixed hinge member [4. Each hingemember 20 is pivoted to the lower end of one of the depending legs I9 bymeans of spaced alined shoulder rivets 26. As illustrated in Fig. 3,each rivet passes through one side flange 24 and the adjacent sideflange of the channel shaped leg portion l9. From this construction itwill be seen that each hinge member is pivoted to one of the legs H! bymeans of transversely spaced pivots 26, thus providing an unobstructedspace or passage between the side flanges of the leg portion I9 for thefree movement of the counterbalancing Spring as hereinafter described.

Located below the hinge connections 26 of each of the hinge arms 20,when the lid is closed, is a transverse pin 28 connecting the sideflanges 24 of the crank portion 21 and having its ends rigidly securedthereto as by riveting. Each pin 28 provides the connection for one end29a of a heavy tension spring 29 which is hooked over the pin. Two ofthese springs are provided, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and each springhas its forward end 291) confined in a notch 30 in the flange l1 andhooked into a hole 3| in the backsideoi the support M. Thus, the crankportion 21 at the inner end of each of the hinge members -2|D isconnected to the back of the fixed support, I4

by means of a tension spring lying immediately below one of the sides Mbof the supporting frame and adapted to project into the downwardlyopening channel thereof when the deck lid is in raised position, asshown in Fig. 2. In order to provide clearance for the movement of therear ends of the springs 29 from the position shown in Fig. "4 to theposition shown in Fig. 2, the top wall of each channel shaped leg I'llis cut away at '32. Likewise the flanging ll along the lower edges-oieach leg I9 is cut away at 33 in order to provide clearance for themovement of the-inner end of the hinge member 20.

When the deck lid {2 is raised to the position shown in-Fig. 2 thesprings 29-, which are at all times loaded or under tension, exert aforward pull on the crank or lever portions 2'! of the hinge members271. The springs are so selected that the effective effort exerted bythem is sufiic ient'to substantially counterbalance the weight of thedeck lid and thereby 'maintain it in its raised position. Since therivets 26 of each pair forming the hinge connection for each hinge arm28 are spaced apart, it will be seen that the spring 29 is permitted topass between these rivets into the channel of the side member Mb duringmovement-of the spring from the position of Fig. =4 to the positionshown in Fig. 2. When the deck lid is lowered the spring connections 28swing outwardly and downwardly thereby progressively stretching thesprings and increasing the loading thereof. In the preferredconstruction each spring -'ccnnection 28 moves a slight distance'below adead center line passing through the points '26 and Si when the lidreaches its closed position as illustrated in Fig. 4. Hence, whenthe lidis in ful'ly'closed position the springs 29 will exert a slight eliorttending to hold the lid firmly closed. 'Upon raising the lid from thisposition it will be seen that the springs will exert a progressivelyincreasing lifting eifort on the lid as soon as the springs have movedupwardly beyond dead center. a

We claim:

1. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment .orthe like, comprising a generally U-shaped 'supportadapted to be mountedwithin said compartment and having "substa'nt'ially paralleltransversely spaced inverted channel shaped side members provided withdownwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured tothe lid and having spaced hinge members pivoted at their inner ends "tosaid side members to swing abouta transverse axis, and tension springsconnected at ppposite ends to said support and hinge members, saidsprings extending horizontally in the vertiwardly bent outer ends, ahinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid and having spacedinverted channel shaped hinge members telescoped with said downwardlybent ends and pivotally-connecte'd thereto to swing about a transverseaxis, and'tension springs lying below and in the vertical planes. ofsaid side members connected to the inner end of the support and alsoconnected to the upper ends of lever portions on said hinge membersextending upwardly above,

said axis when the-lid is open and adapted to swing rearwardly of saidaxis and downwardly as the lid is swung to closed position.

3. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment orthe like, comprising a gen erally U-shaped support adapted to be mountedwithin said compartment and having substan tially parallel transverselyspaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardlybent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid andhaving spaced hinge members pivoted at their inner ends to said sidemembers to swing about-a transverse axis, and tension springs connectedat opposite ends to said support andhinge members; said springsextending horizontally in the vertical planes of said side members whenthe lid is open and each movable within a slot in the channel of one ofsaid downwardly bent ends from a position above said axis to a positionin which the spring intersects said axis.

4. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment orthe like, comprising a generally "U shaped support adapted to be mountedwithin said compartment and having substantially parallel transverselyspaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardlybent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid andhaving spaced inverted channel shaped hinge members telescoped with saiddownwardly bent ends and pivotally connected thereto to swing about atransverse axis, tension springs connected at their forward ends to thefrontedge of the support and extending rearwardly and horizontally atleast partially within said side members when the lid is open, saidhinge members terminating in lever arms extending upwardly from saidaxis when the lid is open and providing connections at their ends withthe rear ends of the springs which connections are adapted to swing frompoints above said axis when the lid is open rearwardly of said axis anddownwardly as the lid is moved to closed position.

5. A hinge device for the swinging lid or oldsure of a compartment or"the like, comprising a generally 'U-shaped support adapted to bemounted within said compartment and having substantially paralleltransversely spaced inverted channel shaped side members provided withdownwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured tothe lid and having spaced inverted 'c'hannel shaped hinge memberstel'es'coped with said downwardly bent ends and pivotally connected"thereto to swing about a transverse axis, tension springs connected attheir forward ends to the front edge of the support and extendingrearwardly and horizontally below said side members when the lid isopen, said hinge members terminating in lever arms extending upwardlyfrom said axis when the lid is open and providing connections at theirends with the rear ends of the springs which connections are adapted toswing from points above said axis when the lid is open rearwardly ofsaid axis and downwardly as the lid is moved to closed position, saidsprings passing through said axis during closing movement of the lid.

6. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment orthe like, comprising a generally U-shaped support adapted to be mountedwithin said compartment and having substantially parallel transverselyspaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardlybent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid andhaving spaced hinge members pivoted at their inner ends to said sidemembers to swing about a transverse axis, and tension springs connectedat opposite ends to said support and hinge members, said springsextending horizontally in the vertical planes of said side members whenthe lid is open and each extending through and movable within a slot inthe channel of one of said downwardly bent ends, said hinge membershaving lever arms extending upwardly from said axis when the lid is openand providing connections for the rear ends of said springs swingablerearwardly of said axis when the lid is moved to closed position.

7. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment orthe like, comprising a generally U-shaped support adapted to b'emountedwithin said compartment and having substantially parallel transverselyspaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardlybent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid andhaving spaced inverted channel shaped hinge members telescoped with saiddownwardly bent ends and pivotally connected thereto to swing about atransverse axis, and tension springs lying below and in the verticalplanes of said side members connected to the inner end of the supportand also connected to lever portions on said hinge members at pointslying above said axis when the lid is open and rearwardly of said axiswhen the lid is swung to closed position, the pivotal connection of eachhinge member to one of said bent ends comprising pivots spaced apart topermit the adjacent spring to pass therebetween with the rear ends ofthe springs passing rearwardly of said axis as the lid is closed.

8. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment orthe like, comprising a generally U-shaped support adapted to be mountedwithin said compartment and having substantially parallel transverselyspaced inverted channel shaped Side members provided with downwardlybent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid andhaving spaced inverted channel shaped hinge members pivotally connectedthereto to swing about a transverse axis, and tension springs lyingbelow and in the vertical planes of said side members connected to theinner end of the support and also con-- nected to lever portions on saidhinge members at oints lying above said axis when the lid is open, saidpoints of connection of the springs to said lever portions adapted tomove rearwardly of and below said axis when the lid is swung to closedposition.

9. A hinge device for the swinging lid or 010-- sure of a compartment orthe like, comprising a generally U-shaped support adapted to be mountedwithin said compartment and having substantially parallel transverselyspaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardlybent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid andhaving spaced inverted channel shaped hinge members pivotally connectedthereto to swing about a transverse axis, and tension springs lyingbelow and in the vertical planes of said side members connected to theinner end of the support and also connected to lever portions on saidhinge members at points lying above said axis when the lid is open, saidpoints of connection of the springs to, said lever portions adapted tomove rearwardly of and below said axis when the lid is swung to closedposition, the rear ends of said springs projecting through openings insaid bent ends and rearwardly thereof when the lid is open.

TRYGVE VIGMOSTAD. EARL W. REDICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 216,777 Barry June 24, 18791,649,607 Marshall Nov. 15, 1927 2,129,750 Schneider Sept. 13, 19382,229,315 Sullivan Jan, 21, 1941 2,235,984 Devereaux Mar. 25, 19412,259,970 Benzick Oct. 21, 1941 2,279,992 Jackson et a1 Apr. 14, 19422,341,847 Roethel Feb. 15, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date25,650 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1896

